The demon's claws scraped against Tsuna's Sky Flame barrier with a screech that set his teeth on edge. The force of the impact sent tremors through his arms, but he held firm, his boots digging grooves into the wooden floorboards. Sweat beaded along his brow as he channeled more energy into the barrier, the orange flames flickering violently under the demon's assault.
Aureon let out a piercing cry from above, diving toward the demon's exposed back with talons wreathed in Sky Flames. The gryphon's attack connected, golden fire erupting across the demon's shoulders. The creature roared—not in pain, but in annoyance—and backhanded Aureon with enough force to send the familiar crashing through a paper wall.
"Aureon!" Tsuna's voice cracked with concern. His momentary distraction cost him. The demon's fist smashed through his barrier, sending him skidding backward until his spine hit the opposite wall. The impact knocked the breath from his lungs, and he tasted copper.
"Pathetic," the demon sneered, flexing his elongated fingers. Black ichor dripped from where Aureon's flames had seared his flesh, but the wounds were already closing. "A low-rank exorcist and his pet bird? You're barely worth my time."
Tsuna wiped blood from his lip, forcing himself upright. His entire body ached, but worse than the physical pain was the realization dawning on him—this creature wasn't just stronger than academy training demons. It operated on a level comparable to the elite Varia assassins he'd fought during the Inheritance Ceremony. And he was fighting it alone, without any allies or Reborn's guidance.
The demon studied Tsuna with an intrigued expression, his crimson eyes gleaming with something between amusement and curiosity. "You're an odd one, little exorcist," he mused, tapping a clawed finger against his temple. "At first, I assumed your power was some obscure exorcist technique—maybe a refined form of spiritual energy manipulation. But no... it's different. It burns like an exorcist's flames, yet it lacks the sacred purity that comes with them."
His eyes narrowed, observing the flickering orange flames that surrounded Tsuna's body, illuminating the ruined station in a warm but unholy glow. "And for a moment... I almost mistook it for something greater. A force akin to the Blue Flames of the Demon King himself. Now, that would have been interesting." His lips curled into a wicked grin. "But no, that's not it either."
Tsuna's body tensed as the demon took a slow step forward. His muscles screamed at him to move, to react, but he forced himself to stay still, calculating his next move.
"This power of yours..." the demon continued, tilting his head as if listening to something beyond Tsuna's comprehension. "It's similar to exorcist energy and demonic energy, yet entirely separate from both. The source is different—it manifests in a way I've never seen before, as if it doesn't belong to this world." He flexed his clawed hand, feeling the residual heat in the air left by Tsuna's flames. "No, it's not something borrowed from the heavens or the underworld. It's something wholly your own."
Tsuna clenched his fists, suppressing a shudder. The way this demon was analyzing him so casually, breaking down the mechanics of his power mid-battle—it reminded him of Reborn. But unlike Reborn's calculated guidance, this demon's fascination carried a dangerous edge, as if he were a predator studying an unusual new prey before deciding whether to devour it.
The demon smirked. "Tell me, boy... just what are you?"
Tsuna didn't answer. His mind was racing too fast. He had turned into his Dying Will Mode the moment the battle escalated, but now he was hyper-aware of its drawbacks.
Dying Will Mode significantly increased his combat ability and reaction speed, sharpening his instincts to the extreme. Thanks to his years of training, he no longer lost control the way he had in the past, and his custom-made exorcist gear—reinforced with flame-resistant materials—prevented his clothes from being incinerated the moment he transformed. But even now, this state still had limitations.
His biggest concern wasn't his control—it was his energy consumption.
Despite years of refining this transformation, Dying Will Mode still burned through his energy at an accelerated rate. It was sustainable in a drawn-out battle, but if he wasn't careful, he'd exhaust himself faster than his opponent. And Hyper Dying Will Mode? That was out of the question.
That form, while exponentially stronger, placed immense strain on his body. It removed his limiters completely, allowing him to fight with unrivaled power—but at his current age, his body wasn't fully developed. The form drained him at an alarming rate, far faster than even during his sparring sessions with Neuhaus.
His maximum time in Hyper Mode was only a few minutes.
It wasn't because he was weak.
It was because his body wasn't yet mature enough to withstand prolonged use of that power. If he activated it here, he'd be left completely vulnerable once the time limit was up, and against a demon like this—one with clear intelligence and overwhelming strength—that would be fatal.
His opponent was analyzing him carefully. He had no reason to believe the demon would simply let him go if he became defenseless. If anything, he'd likely take advantage of Tsuna's weakened state and eliminate him immediately.
Tsuna gritted his teeth. Hyper Mode is too risky. I need to fight within my limits.
Thankfully, years of training had refined his base Dying Will Mode to the point where it was second nature. In the past, the transformation had stripped away his rationality, making him loud, impulsive, and reckless. But now? He was in control.
Well, mostly.
Even now, he could feel the shift in his personality—the surge of confidence that bordered on arrogance. His instincts screamed at him to push forward, to overcome. It was a stark contrast to his usual self, but he had long since learned to work with it rather than fight against it.
The demon's smirk widened. "Still silent? No matter. You'll be dead soon enough."
Without warning, he lunged forward, his claws tearing through the air in a blur.
Tsuna barely had time to react, twisting his body at the last second. The demon's strike tore through the wall behind him, splintering wood and sending debris flying. Tsuna retaliated instantly, igniting his flames and propelling himself forward, aiming a high-speed punch straight for the demon's midsection.
The hit connected.
Or so he thought.
A sickening crack echoed through the air as the demon caught his fist in one hand, stopping him cold.
Tsuna's eyes widened. He blocked it?!
The demon chuckled. "Oh? That actually stung a little. Impressive." His fingers tightened around Tsuna's fist, the pressure sending jolts of pain up his arm. "But not nearly enough."
Before Tsuna could break free, the demon swung him like a ragdoll, slamming him into the floor. The impact knocked the breath from his lungs, stars bursting in his vision.
But he didn't stay down.
Gritting his teeth, he pushed off the ground, flames bursting beneath his feet to propel him backward just in time to avoid a follow-up strike. His boots slid across the wooden floor, leaving scorch marks in his wake.
The demon watched him recover with a mixture of amusement and intrigue. "Resilient. I like that." He raised a hand, dark energy coalescing at his fingertips. "Let's see how long you can last."
A massive blast of black flames erupted toward Tsuna.
He reacted instantly, raising both hands as his Sky Flames surged outward, forming a barrier. The two forces collided in a brilliant explosion of light and darkness, the sheer force shaking the station's foundation.
Tsuna's arms trembled under the strain, but he held firm.
He wasn't out of this fight yet.
The demon clicked his tongue. "Tch. You really are something else." He tilted his head, crimson eyes gleaming with a newfound interest. "I suppose I should stop holding back, then."
Tsuna's grip tightened. He wasn't even serious before?!
Dark energy pulsed around the demon, the pressure in the room skyrocketing. Tsuna's flames flickered under the oppressive force, his instincts screaming at him to move— now.
The demon lunged, his movements faster than before, claws slicing toward Tsuna with lethal precision. Tsuna barely dodged, twisting his body to avoid a fatal hit, but the demon anticipated it, shifting mid-strike. His claws raked against Tsuna's side, tearing through fabric and skin.
Pain flared, but Tsuna gritted his teeth and retaliated. A blast of Sky Flames ignited in his palm, aimed point-blank at the demon's chest. The attack landed, sending a shockwave through the room, yet instead of pain, the demon hesitated.
His predatory grin wavered, his gaze flicking down—not at the flames, but at the blood dripping from Tsuna's wounds.
Then he inhaled sharply, his expression shifting from amusement to something eerily unreadable.
Tsuna caught the hesitation instantly, pushing back and raising his fists. "What? What's wrong?"
The demon didn't answer right away. Instead, he stared at Tsuna with something dangerously close to curiosity.
"You…" His voice was quieter now, almost uncertain. His eyes gleamed with something dark, something Tsuna couldn't quite place.
It wasn't just the fight that had caught his interest anymore. It was Tsuna himself.
The demon's energy surged, dark tendrils of power twisting around his form like living shadows. His once-playful smirk hardened into something far more dangerous.
Tsuna barely had a second to react before the demon was upon him.
A clawed hand struck out with blinding speed, crashing into Tsuna's guard like a battering ram. The sheer force sent him skidding backward, his boots scraping against the broken floorboards. He barely had time to brace before the demon closed the distance again, faster—stronger—than before.
He's done playing around.
Tsuna ducked under a sweeping strike aimed at his throat, retaliating with a burst of Sky Flames. His fist connected, but this time, the demon didn't even flinch.
A sharp pain exploded in his gut.
Tsuna gasped as the demon's knee slammed into his stomach, lifting him off the ground before sending him crashing into a pile of debris. Wood splintered under the impact, dust clouding the air.
Crap—
He barely rolled aside in time to avoid the next attack. Claws carved through where his head had been just moments ago, splitting the ground open.
Tsuna forced himself to his feet, his body aching, his breaths coming sharp and shallow. He couldn't keep up. The difference in power was staggering, and the demon was still holding back.
The creature tilted his head, crimson eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Not bad. You're tough for a human. But…" His lips curled, and suddenly, he was gone—no, behind him—!
A crushing force slammed into Tsuna's back, sending him sprawling. Before he could rise, the demon's foot pressed against his shoulder, pinning him down.
"…You're not nearly tough enough."
Tsuna struggled, his flames flaring wildly, but the demon only laughed.
And then—
Bzzzt.
A faint vibration hummed from the demon's pocket.
Tsuna blinked, stunned by the sheer absurdity of the moment as the demon casually pulled out a small, sleek phone.
"Mm?" The creature glanced at the screen before answering, keeping Tsuna firmly pinned beneath his boot. "Yeah?"
A garbled voice crackled through the speaker, too distorted for Tsuna to make out the words. But whatever was said made the demon grin, his sharp teeth glinting.
"You found it?" His eyes gleamed with excitement. "Hah. I knew I liked you lot for a reason. Is the location confirmed?"
Another response.
The demon chuckled, his amusement deepening. "Good. That means we can finally claim the Maken. My master will be pleased."
Tsuna's stomach clenched. Damn it— They really had gotten the map. This whole fight had been nothing but a delay tactic.
The demon exhaled through his nose, as if considering something. His foot lifted slightly, and Tsuna tensed, ready to spring up—only for the demon to press down again, pinning him effortlessly.
"…No, nothing important," the demon muttered into the phone. "Just a curious little exorcist. Though, I did find something interesting." His gaze flickered toward Tsuna's blood-streaked form, amusement lingering in his expression. "I'll look into it later."
Another response. The demon hummed before sighing dramatically. "Fine, fine. I'm coming."
He ended the call with a tap of his claw before glancing down at Tsuna one last time.
"You're lucky," he mused, voice laced with something unreadable. "I could kill you right now."
Then, faster than Tsuna could react, his foot shot forward, slamming into Tsuna's ribs and sending him flying.
Tsuna barely managed to catch himself, coughing as pain flared through his body. He looked up just in time to see the demon stepping back, his grin wide with satisfaction.
"Try not to die before we meet again, little exorcist."
And with that, the demon's form dissolved into darkness, vanishing completely.
Tsuna slumped forward, panting, the weight of the battle crashing down on him. He clenched his fists.
The map was gone.
The Maken's location was in enemy hands.
And worst of all—
Whatever the demon had sensed in his blood...
Tsuna had no idea what it meant.
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Tsuna sat slumped against the wall of the ruined room, his body heavy with exhaustion. The battle had left him battered—his arms were covered in cuts, his side ached from the deep gash where the demon's claws had pierced through, and his ribs throbbed with every breath. He could still feel the faint burn where dark energy had grazed his skin, but the worst of the pain was fading.
His Sun Flames pulsed softly over his wounds, accelerating his healing. Though it wasn't as effective as an actual healer's abilities, combined with his knowledge of first aid and the small medical kit he always carried, he had managed to patch himself up well enough to keep going. Bandages wrapped snugly around his torso, concealing the worst of the injuries.
Still, that was close…
A sigh escaped his lips. His stamina was completely drained—turning into Dying Will Mode had taken its toll, and the battle itself had left him utterly exhausted. He needed rest. Just a moment to breathe.
A soft weight nudged against his side.
Tsuna cracked open one eye to see Aureon staring at him, the little grphon's feathers singed in places from the earlier fight. The bird chirped quietly, eyes filled with concern.
A small smile tugged at Tsuna's lips. "You did great out there," he murmured, reaching up to stroke Aureon's head. The warmth of the gryphon's tiny body was comforting. "I don't think I could've lasted as long without you."
Aureon let out a pleased trill, nuzzling into his hand.
Tsuna chuckled weakly. "You really are amazing, you know that?"
The gryphon fluffed up proudly at the praise, but a second later, its gaze turned serious. Aureon gently pecked at Tsuna's bandaged arm, a quiet scolding in his chirps.
Tsuna sighed. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I got reckless." He leaned his head back against the wall. "But it's not like I had much of a choice."
Aureon gave him a deadpan look, as if saying You always say that.
Tsuna laughed softly. "Alright, fine. I'll try to be more careful next time."
The gryphon seemed satisfied with that, settling down beside him.
For a while, Tsuna just sat there, listening to the distant echoes of the station. The sounds of battle had faded, replaced by eerie silence. He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.
Then—
Heavy footsteps echoed through the halls.
Tsuna stiffened, immediately on alert. He reached for the talismans tucked in his sleeve, his fingers brushing over the gun he had loaded with the bullets he bought from Futsumaya. His muscles ached, but he forced himself upright, preparing for another fight.
The steps grew louder, nearing his position.
Then he caught a glimpse of movement—dark silhouettes approaching from the far end of the corridor.
His grip on the gun tightened. More demons?
But then, as they stepped into the dim light, he noticed something—robes, insignias, and weapons coated in blood.
Exorcists.
The tension in Tsuna's shoulders eased slightly, but he didn't lower his guard completely.
The group—five of them—looked just as exhausted as he felt. Their uniforms were torn, stained with both human and demon blood. Some clutched at injuries, their breathing heavy. It didn't seem like they had come from the main gathering room where the other exorcists were recovering—rather, they had likely been out fighting against the possessed humans or demons that had rampaged through the city during the attack.
One of them, a tall man with dark hair tied back in a low ponytail, stepped forward. His sharp, tired eyes locked onto Tsuna.
"You're not one of ours," he said, tone cautious.
Tsuna, still leaning against the wall for support, sighed. "No, I was just… helping out."
The exorcists exchanged glances. Clearly, they hadn't expected to find a random teenager—let alone one this beaten up—in the wreckage of the station.
A woman with short, blood-matted hair stepped forward, eyeing his injuries. "You look like hell."
"Yeah," Tsuna muttered, "I feel like it too."
Another exorcist—a younger guy with a torn sleeve and a deep gash along his arm—spoke up. "You fought one of them, didn't you?"
Tsuna hesitated before nodding.
The ponytailed man studied him more carefully now. "And you're still alive?"
Tsuna gave a humorless chuckle. "Barely."
The group seemed to relax at that, their wariness easing.
The woman with short hair sighed, rubbing her temples. "Well, at least someone here got a few hits in. Damn things tore through our teams like nothing."
The younger exorcist muttered a curse under his breath. "They were stronger than we expected. Too organized."
Tsuna frowned at that. It confirmed what he had already suspected—the attack wasn't random chaos. The demons had a clear objective.
"…They retreated," the ponytailed man muttered, glancing toward the dark corridors.
Tsuna blinked. "What?"
"They stopped attacking a little while ago," the exorcist explained. "We barely managed to get back in because of it. One second, they were slaughtering everyone in sight, and then—suddenly, they just left."
Tsuna's stomach twisted.
The demon I fought also left after that phone call.
This wasn't over.
The exorcists seemed too drained to question him further, but their leader motioned toward him. "Come on. You look like you're about to collapse. Let's get you back to the others."
Tsuna hesitated, then nodded. He was too exhausted to argue.
With their help, he managed to get to his feet, his legs shaky but holding. Aureon fluttered onto his shoulder, chirping quietly in concern.
As they made their way through the ruined halls, Tsuna's mind raced.
Something didn't add up. The demons had no reason to retreat unless their goal had been achieved.
And then—his thoughts snapped back to the demon's words.
"My master's agents retrieved the location hours before attacking this station."
Someone had taken the map.
But that meant…
Tsuna clenched his fists.
They had inside help.
Someone—an exorcist—was colluding with the demons.
When they finally reached the main recovery room, Tsuna spotted Aiko among the other injured exorcists. She looked up, relief flashing in her eyes. "Tsuna!"
He barely had time to sit down before he leaned closer, voice low.
"Aiko," he murmured. "I think… there's a traitor among us."
Her breath hitched.
And just like that, exhaustion was forgotten.
Because if Tsuna was right…
The real danger was still lurking among them.